Creator of SHEDOC™ doctoral app
3 Simple Steps
Real doctoral students. Real progress. Hear how strategic support helped them finish — without sacrificing their lives.

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. DAWRELL RICH shares how investing in strategic doctoral support gave him clarity on how to do exactly what was required—transforming sustained effort into real progress and allowing him to move through his dissertation more efficiently while balancing scholarship, ministry, and family life.
(PhD, Religion, Society, & Ecology)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Rev. Dr. HOLLY STRICKLAND reflects on the transformation she experienced in her doctoral program and life after investing in doctoral coaching —highlighting the power of compassionate accountability, expert guidance, and focused execution. Her experience underscores the impact of support that combines care, clarity, and consistent forward movement.
(DMin, Transformational Leadership)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Rev. Dr. TAMLA WILSON shares how structured doctoral support made it possible to finish her dissertation while navigating a full-time career, ministry, and motherhood — without sacrificing her life.
(Doctor of Ministry)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Future Dr. LESLIE BOWLING-DYER reflects on how structured guidance and clarity brought renewed focus to her doctoral journey and helped her move from the early stages of comprehensive exams and proposal development to making meaningful progress across several dissertation chapters.
(PhD, Anthropology and Sociology of Religion and Church History)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. JAIMIE CRUMLEY shares about how auditing her time and creating focused space for her dissertation allowed her to consistently produce chapters, receive feedback, and keep moving forward—while continuing to live a full, well-rounded life throughout her doctoral journey.
(PhD, Gender Studies)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. PRISCILLA WOOD shares how prioritizing her health and family alongside her doctoral work did not compromise her success —demonstrating that with the right support, success does not require sacrifice or burnout.
(PhD, Organizational Leadership & Human Resource Development)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. WHITNEY BOND shares how investing in doctoral coaching at a pivotal moment transformed her trajectory—allowing her to complete her Program of Study in just 90 days, demonstrating the impact of the right guidance at the right time. Her experience highlights the power of focused guidance, strategic pacing, and having support beyond what the institution alone provides.
(PhD, Theology, Ethics & The Human Sciences)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. TAUREAN WEBB shares how investing in doctoral support helped him streamline his reading and writing and work more efficiently—while remaining present with his growing family, even during a global pandemic. His experience highlights the power of approaching doctoral work as a whole person, not just a scholar.
(PhD, Theology, Ethics and History)
Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Future Dr. ALICIA BETHA shares why she chose to invest in coaching before her program began and speaks candidly about ADHD not as a limitation, but as something that, when strategically supported, does not hinder her success.
(Doctor of Business Administration)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. TAWANNA DAVIS shares how she successfully re-entered her doctoral program after an extended medical leave and quickly regained momentum—demonstrating the power of strategic support when returning to her studies.
(PhD, Leadership & Change - Womanist Ethics)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Dr. CHELSEA YARBOROUGH shares how doctoral coaching supported a powerful shift in how she viewed herself—moving beyond self-doubt to fully embrace her identity as a scholar. Her experience highlights the importance of honoring the whole person by creating space for rest, community, and sustainability while progressing confidently through her doctoral journey.
(PhD, Homiletics and Liturgics)

Shanell T Smith, PhD - Doctoral Expert
492 subscribers
Future Dr. JANA PETERSON shares how coaching reinforced her confidence and helped her pursue advanced study without alienating her family or sacrificing her life—affirming that she did not have to put one on hold for the other.
(Master of Divinity)
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I help doctoral students successfully navigate the various stages of their program with ease so they can not only finish faster, but finish faster without sacrificing their quality of life.
I've been there. I understand the pressures that come along with the doctoral pursuit. I get the demands on your time, and the urge to take away that time from your loved ones. I've experienced the "I'm-not-built-for-this-ness" that many doctoral students feel. And I understand the anxiousness and unease that one feels when you just don't know what to do because you've never done a doctorate before.
I am a product of great mentoring. Having earned my Ph.D. in 3 years and 9 months with 2 kids, I came away with tips, strategies, and advice that make the doctoral process not just manageable, but also enjoyable.
So I've made it my mission to share what I know with future doctors around the world. Teaching the HOW for the WHAT that institutions require. And after 8 years as a full-time Associate Professor, I resigned so that I could focus all of my energies on doing just that.
Over the years, doctoral students have come to me with their health deteriorating, they've lost their families due to resentment that festered, and they've struggled with so many things common to all doctoral students such as time management, impostor syndrome, writer's block, lack of productivity, and so on.
For this reason, I created my proven Accelerate Your Doctorate® Method. Through private and group coaching programs, I help doctoral students from start to FINISH.
There is a better, healthier way to earn a doctorate, and I am committed to teaching future doctors how to do it.







Apply for doctoral support & strategic oversight with Dr. Shanell T. Smith, PhD.